Hi! Palme School here! We're continuing our New Year's Eve cycleToday we are going to tell you about the symbols of Christmas in different countries. Of course, living in the United States or Canada, we are used to associating this holiday with a nice old man Santa. However, different countries that celebrate Christmas have their own fairy tale characters associated with this holiday. Interestingly, some of them appeared in distant pagan times, and others - quite recently. Let's get acquainted with these characters from fairy tales and legends.
- The reading time is 5 minutes.
Italy
On Christmas night, presents are brought to the children by a witch Befana. This witch or young woman is believed to go door-to-door at night on Christmas Eve. Interestingly, her name is associated with Epiphany (epifania in Italian), but her contemporaries made her an analog of Santa Claus. Just like him, the witch enters the house through the chimney and puts presents in the socks. By the way, if a child misbehaved this year, his sock will have coals in it. Or black sugar lumps as a hint to behave better.
Also, Befana - one of the main characters in G. Rodari's fairy tale "The Journey of the Blue Arrow".
Another symbol of Christmas is also honored in some provinces of Italy - the Santa Lucia. According to legend, this saint brought gifts to sick children who had lost their sight due to an epidemic. Over time, in northern Italy and Sicily Santa Lucia became even more revered than Santa Claus.
Sweden
Christmas straw goat helps the Swedish wizard gnome to bring presents. The thing is that at Christmas it was customary to go door to door and sing songs (caroling). Usually carolers put on goat skins and maxi. As a rule, they were given treats for this.
By the way, in the modern world, the straw goat is associated interesting tradition. In 1966 in the Swedish town of Jevle for the first time installed a huge figure of a goat made of straw. Of course, it was done in order to attract tourists to the city. But, unfortunately, some time later, intruders set fire to the figure and passed the baton for several decades to come. So, for more than 50 years, a new straw goat has been erected in the city, and unknown people have been trying to burn it. I wonder if the goat will hold up this year. After all, the precautions around the figure only get stronger every year!
Germany
There are several Christmas characters in this country at once, and with negative meanings.
Frau Perchta - is a character similar to the Italian witch Befana. In the past, Perchta had an exclusively positive role and was considered identical to another deity, Holda. Over time, however, their functions have been separated, and Perchte has been given the role of intimidation and intimidation. She has goose feet, by the way. So she's really more of a fairy tale!
In addition to Perchta, there is another interesting character in Bavarian folklore - the Belsnickel. He is depicted as a scraggly vagabond in tattered clothes made of animal skins. He gives sweets to obedient children and punishes the naughty ones. In fact, he is not the most evil hero.
Perhaps the next character deserves the most attention to his person. This is krampusor "Christmas Devil", he accompanies St. Nicholas. Krampus appears on the night of December 5-6 and punishes capricious children by putting a piece of coal under their pillow or stuffing it in a sack. According to other legends, Krampus kidnapped children and threw them into the sea.
Belgium and the Netherlands
Belgium and the Netherlands have their own unusual hero named Black Pete. The most interesting thing is that this character first appeared in the 19th century, in the book "St. Nicholas and his servant". Pete's appearance is peculiar - a head of fine black curls, in the ears are embedded gold rings, like a pirate, and a dark-colored face. Despite this, children loved him, and Black Pete became an indispensable symbol of Dutch Christmas.
Black Pete serves St. Nicholas (Sinterklaas) and helps him distribute gifts. However, those who disobeyed their parents during the year receive coals from him. Reminds you of the Italian Befana's behavior, doesn't it? According to one version, Black Pete got his nickname because he comes from Africa. According to another, he soiled himself with soot while climbing into houses through the stovepipe.
Portugal and other Southern European countries
In Portugal, southern Italy and some regions of Spain, one of the elements of Christmas celebrations is a figure of a man in brightly colored clothes and with his pants down - caganera. Although the very existence of such a symbol of Christmas is questionable, its emergence is due to an interesting history.
The fact is that the figure of the caganer means a peasant fertilizing the soil. Perhaps it is just a legend, which has survived since the 17th century, when Spain began to lose its power. Nevertheless, the tradition has remained, and even celebrities are now depicted as caganeros.
Wales
Wales has its own interesting and scary character - A gray horse. But not alive, but, one might say, not alive at all. On Christmas Eve, a group of masked men walk through the town, one of whom dresses up in white and holds a stick with a horse's skull on it.
The group goes door-to-door, similar to Russian carols, singing songs and receiving treats. Children are frightened at the sight of a horse, which is apparently the purpose of this rite. By the way, like many other traditions, this ritual dates back to pagan times.
Iceland
There's a legend here about yule cat - the hero of the ancient festival, celebrated on the winter solstice. Historically, this holiday fell on Christmas Day, so its characters and traditions have become closely intertwined over time.
According to legend, a huge black cat lives in an ice cave, but before the winter holidays, it comes out of its hiding place and goes to the villages. The cat goes door to door looking for those who have not taken care of their warm winter clothes and eats them.
The most interesting thing is that in Iceland people still give each other new clothes for Christmas. Still, the power of folk folklore is inexhaustible.
Canada
Back in the olden days, the indigenous people of Canada, the Indians. moose. As Indian legends say, he delivered the ancient people from the sun stealer and brought warmth and fire back to the Earth. Moose is so popular that today there are more than 600 names with this word on the map of Canada. As a result, decorating Christmas trees with moose figurines has become a good Christmas tradition among Canadians.
And if you're interested in reading about Advent and the start of the pre-Christmas period, we told you about it in this article.
